Gun tester



Sept. 28, 1943. J. MCCULLOUGH 2,330,509

GUN TESTER Filed April 50, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR: 07/5 J M G/110w ATTORNEY.

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GUN TESTER Filed April 30, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR' 07/5 J 44 60 400664 ATTORNEY M7 [Ill 227/ uzzaz zzzgg d zz z Patented Sept. 28, 1 943 McCullough Tool Company,

Los Angeles,

Calif., a corporation of Nevada Application April 30, 1940, SerialNo. 332,470

' 70m ns. (c|.1 s;1i[

My invention relates in general to the art of producing oil from the earth and relates in particular to an apparatus whereby consecutive or selected strata traversed by a bore hole may be tested to determine whether the same has producible fluids, for example, gas and oil, therein.

It is an object of my present invention to provide an apparatus whereby the perforating device may be operated to produce perforations connecting the adjacent formation with the interior of the well and a test may be immediately thereafter performed to determine whether the formation penetrated contains oil, thereby avoiding the lapse of time above referred to between the operation of the perforating gun and the reduction of the pressure in the well.

It is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus by which perforations may be first made at a selected level in the well and immediately thereafter the pressure within the well adjacent the formations may be reduced so as to cause an inflow into the well of such fluids as exist in the adjacent formation.

- a desired position of operation, perforations made through the'wall of the casing and a sample drawn from the adjacent formation without re- 'moval of the device from the well.

, A further object of the invention is to provide a means in conjunction with the device referred to in the preceding paragraph for sealing off the well adjacent the perforations so that the perforations will be relieved from the pressure of mud or other liquid contained in that portion of the well thereabove.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a combined perforating and testing device adapted to establish communication between the top of the well and the zone within the well in which the perforations have been made, thereby relieving or reducing pressure in this zone so as to induce entry of fluid from the formation into the well, and if desired to produce a flow of such &

the'device to the topof the weuso fluid through that the character of such fluid may be observed before the device is removed from the well.

It is an object of the invention to Provide a I tial between this spaceand the formation which has been opened by the perforations, so as to a combined perforating and testing device having a tube which is moved in the well to a desired position, this tube having a perforating gun connected thereto,- to provide the tube with means for opening the lower portion of the same to communication with the interior of the well for the.

purpose of taking a sample, to provide a means for sealing off the well adjacent the opening of the tube, to provide a device of this character through which circulation may be maintained, and to provide simple and effective means whereby control and operation of the cooperating parts of the device are accomplished.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a partly sectioned view showing a preferred embodiment of my invention in a well casing.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the upper part of the device prior to the actuation thereof.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the lower portion of the device prior to its actuation.

Fig. 4'is an enlarged sectional view imilar to Fig. 2 but showing the device with its packer set or expanded in the casing. Fig. 51s a sectional view showing the lower portion of the device. after setting of the packing and the opening of the sample receiving means,

so as to receive a sample.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-section taken on a plane represented by the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Indicative of the general use of my invention an organization ll consisting of a perforating device, shown as a gun l8, packing means l9, and closure means 20 adapted to be actuated so as to establish communication between a sample receiving space within the device and the zone in the well in which the perforations have been made.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the organization I! includes an upper member 2| having threaded connection at 22 with the lower end of the tube IS. The member 2| has an axial opening 23 threaded at 24 to receive the upper end of an inner tube 25 which extends down through the packing means |3 and, as shown in Fig. 3, has threads 25 at its lower end for connection to the closure member 20, this closure member being of annular form and having threads 21 at its lower end for connection to the upper part of the gun I8. Accordingly, by use of the tube 25 the gun I8 is connected directly through the fitting or upper member 2| with the lower endof the tube l6 which comprises a tring of pipe sections joined by threaded coup gs, as shown in Fig. 1, having a collar 29 at the upper end thereof for engagement of suitable hoisting equipment represented by an elevator 30.

The packing means I! is slidably disposed on the tube 25 for the purpose of permitting a downward movement of the tube 25 through the packing means l9 after the packing means has been set in the casing l0, thereby moving the closure member 20 from the position in which it is shown in Fig. 3 downward and away from the bushing 3| which forms the lower end of the packing means l9, as shown in Fig. 5. when the tube 25 and the gun l8 are lowered relative to the packing device l9, as shown in Fig. 5. openings 32 in the tube 25 will be exposed below the bushing 3|, thereby establishing communication between the interior of the tube 25 and the space within the casing l below the packing means l9,

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the packing means |9 has a cylindric shell 33 threaded to and extending upwardly from the bushing 3|. At the upper end of this shell 33 threads 34 are provided to connect it to a body 35 having upwardly diverging guides 35 for slips or jaws 31 which normally rest in lowered position, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper cylindric portion 38 of the slip supporting body 35 is threaded to receive a collar 39 having an inwardly turned lip 40. The lower flange ll of a sleeve 42 rests within the collar 39, and the sleeve 32 projects upwardly from the collar so as to support thereon a packing element shown as consisting of a plurality of rubber rings 43. A collar is threaded on to the upper end of the sleeve 42 and a cylinder section 45 is threaded on to the upper portion of the collar 44 so as to cover the space 46 between the seat 41 at the upper end ofthe collar 44 and the rounded lower face 41' of the member 2| which threads on to the upper end of the tube 25. The member 45 has slots 48 therein and the cylindric portion 33 of the slip supporting body 35 has slots 49 so that during the time the device is being moved axially in the well, with the member 2| in raised relation to the seat 31 of the collar 44, circulation of mud may occur through the space .50 within the sleeve 42. thereby by-passing the packing rings 43.

As shown at the lower end of Fig. 2 and at the upper end of Fig, 3, the jaws 31 are connected by links to a ring 52 which surrounds the upper portion of the cylindric shell 33 and by swivel connecting means 53 is connected for relative rotation to the upper end of a sleeve I, having controlled rotative and sliding movement on the shell 33, and having means for irictional engagement with the wall of the casing I0, such means being shown as how springs 55. The sleeve 5| has bayonet slots 55 therein, engaged by the heads 51 of screws which are threaded into the shell 33. When the screw heads 51 are in the upper portions of the bayonet slots 55, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the sleeve 53 will be in lowered position on the shell 33 and the links 5| will hold the jaws 31 in lowered position on the guides so that the device may be readily moved in the well.

The perforating gun I8 is of the type shown in the copending application of Ira J. McCullough for Gun perforator, Serial No. 258,606, now Patent No. 2,218,802, granted October 22, 1940, and also Patent No. 2,154,859. Such gun has a plurality of barrels 58 in which projectiles are held with associated powder charges whereby the outward propulsion oi the projectiles may be obtained. To ignite the powder charges. a priming device or igniter 59 is supported in position below a firing pin 50 which extends downward from a head 6| mounted in an axial opening 62 in the upper part of the gun assembly, and has threaded adjusting means 53 on the head 5|. A tube 54, closed at its lower end, rests upon the head 5| and extends upward through the tube 25 and has on the threaded upper end 65 thereof which projects from the upper end oi the tube 25, a head 65 having limited axial movement in the opening 23 of the member 2| joint formed thereby may be readily unscrewed.

So that there may be but little binding of the threads when the parts 20 and 3| are connected as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, it is preferable to provide shoulders as shown at 10 in Fig. 1, between these parts 20 and 3| to serve as a stop to limit the distance the member 20 may be screwed into the member 3|.

When the members 20 and 3| are in threaded engagement, the openings 32 will be closed by a valve means consisting. a shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

of a sleeve ll having an internal shoulder 12 at its upper end against which an annular body of packing 13 is held by a lantern ring 14 as shown in Fig. 2. Below the ring Tl, as shown in Fig. 3.

a body of packing I5 is held by a bushing 13.

which threads into the lower end of thesleeve 1|. The packing I3 and I5 provides means for frictional engagement with the outer surface of the tube 25 and prevents leakage of fluid through the interior of the sleeve II to the openings 32.

The operation of the device embraces a method including the following steps, which are given in their preferred order, although it will be evident to those familiar with the invention that this order of steps need not be preserved. Assembled as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the device I5 is lowered into the well by means of the tube l3, to bring the gun |8 to a desired or selected position. The gun l3 may be then fired by dropping a go-devil down through the tube l5 so that the will be driven down into firing engagement with links on the sleeve 54 carrying the bow springs 55 which engage the casing Ill. The upwardly diverging tracks 38 will, by downward movement, wedge the slips 3'! tightly outward against the casing In, to rigidly secure the device l9 at a desired position in the casing ID. A lifting force I will be now applied to the tubing 'IG so that the weight of the tubing Hi, the tube 25 and the perforating gun l8 will be taken off of the threads 10. With the threads Ill now released from friction, right-hand rotation may. be applied through the tubing l6 to unscrew the member 20 from the bushing 3|. The tubing, l6 may be then lowered so that the member 2| at the upper end of the device I! may move down from the posi-- tion in which it is shown in Fig. 2 within the cylindrical guard member 45 to engage the seat 41 provided at the upper end of the member 44,

which member 44 will now be forced downward against the assembly of packing rings, to expand the packing rings into engagement with the casing ID as shown in Fig. 4. This downward movement of parts will carry the tube downward so as to move the inlet openings 32 downward from their position of Fig. 3 out through the closure means comprising the sleeve H, to the position thereof shown in Fig. 5, below the lower end of the bushing 3|.

The engagement of the lower face 41' of the member 2| with the seat 41 closes the bypass opening 50 through the packer I9. so that the fluid above the packer in the well will be supported thereon. That portion of the interior of the casing l0 below the packer ill will be connected to the sample receiving space of the device through the openings 32. The sample receiving space of the device includes the interior of the tubular member 64 having entrance openings 68 therein, and also includes the interior of the tubing iii to which piping may be connected by means of the coupling 29 at the upper end thereof. The interior of the tubing and of the tubular member 64 thus opened to communication with that portion of the well below the actuated packer I9 is at a lower pressure than the well pressure at the level of the device l1, whereby a pressure differential is produced which will cause an inflow of fluid through perforations 85 which have been made in the casing Ill into the sample receiving space of the combined testing and perforating device. If the formation adjacent the perforations carries fluids under pressure, for example, oil and gas, such fluids in many instances will pass up through the tubing IE to the top of the well. In other instances'the sample taken through the perforations 85 may pass only a relatively short distance up into the tubing l6,

wherein the sample is trapped by the mere expedient of applying a lifting force through the tubing IE to move the openings 32 of the member 25 up into the sealing member comprising the position thereof shown in Fig. 3. Further lifting force applied through the tubing l8 will raise the body 35 relative to the slips 31, thereby releasing the slips, and atthis time the member 2| will be raised into approximately its relative position of Fig. 2 so that weight will be taken off of the packing rings 43, thereby releasing the packer so that the entire assembly may be removed from the well.

In the preferred practice of the invention the organization I1 is lifted about 20 feet after the gun I8 is fired so as to be out of the way of sand which may enter the casing through the perforations when the pressure is released as described in the foregoing. Also, after the making of the test and prior to the lifting of the device from the well, the member '20 may be screwed several turns into the member 3| to lock the parts in closed relation.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a perforator and tester for use in a well, the combination of: a tube adapted to be moved in a well to a desired position of operation, said tube having means near the lower end thereof to provide an inlet opening for said tube; a perforating gun connected to the lower end of said tube; a member movable on the lower portion of said tube, said member having means to close said opening when it is in one position on said tube and to open said opening when it is moved to another position on said.

tube; means engageable with the wall of the well to control said member whereby relative movement of said member and said tube to open said inlet opening may be accomplished; and means for firing said gun so as to discharge a projectile tc form a perforation to connect the interior of the well with the adjacent formation wllgereby fluid may flow into said well and said t e.

2. In a perforator and tester for use in a well, the combination of: a tube adapted to be moved in a well to a desired position of operation; valve by said tube may be then moved axially relative to said member; means carried by said member to open said valve means when said tube is moved axially relative to said member; and means for actuating said perforating means.

3. In a perforator and tester for use in a well, the combination of: a tube adapted to be moved in a well to a desired position of operation; valve means at the lower end of said tube; perforating means carried by the lower end of said tube; a member in limited axial sliding relation to the lower end of said tube; means operative to lock said member to the casing in the well whereby said tube may be then moved axially relative to said member; means carried by said member to open said valve means when said tube is moved axially relative to said member; means for actuating said perforating means;

, and means carried by said member to seal ofi the well above the lower end of said member.

4. In a perforator and tester for use in a well, the combination of: a tube adapted to be moved in a well to a desired position of operation; valve means at the lower end of said tube; perforating means carried by the lower end of said tube; 'a member in limited axial sliding resleeve II, or inother words substantially into the 76 lation to the lower end of said tube; mean operative to lock said member to the casing in the-well whereby said tube may be then moved axially relative to said member: means carried by said member to open said valve means when said tube is moved axially relative to said member; means for actuating said pertorating means; and a packer connected to said member actuated in response to said relative axial movement of said tube and said member. s

5. In a perforator and tester for use in a well, the combination of: a. sample taking menu.-

ber adapted to be moved in a well to a desired position of operation, said member comprising an inner part having a closure element connected to the lower portion thereof and a tubular shell connected to said closure element and extending upwardly therefrom around. said inner part, there being means operating in response. to rotation of said inner part relative to said shell to disengage said closure element from said shell; suspension means extending upward from said inner part; means on said shell operative to lock the same stationary in the well; packing means on said shell to seal oil the well above the lower end of said shell; and

a perforating gun connected to said inner part and extending below said closure element.

6. In a periorator and tester for use in a well, the combination of: a tube adapted to be moved in a well to a desired position of operation, said 20 to the lower end of said tube, said gun having tube having a laterally directed inlet opening near the lower end thereof; a perforating gun connected to the lower end of said tube; a member movable on the lower portion of said tube:

means on said member engageable with the wall.

oi. the well to hold said member whereby move ment of said tube relative to said member may be accomplished; a slide valve element engaga firing pin projecting from the upper end thereof; a firing pin extension extending up through said tube to a point contiguous to the upper end 01 said tube means movable through said string or pipe to apply a downward force to said tiring pin extension; and means for actuating said inlet valve means of said tube.

one .1. MCCULDOUGH. 

